Foul play suspected in fatal house fire

The death of an 89-year-old woman who was in her Crest Hill home when it burned down Sunday morning is suspicious, authorities said.

Dorothy Dumyahn, of the 2300 block of Caton Farm Road in Crest Hill, was the victim of an apparent homicide, the Will County coroner’s office said today.

Dumyahn was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at her home, according to the coroner’s office. The official cause and manner of her death will be determined pending the final outcome of an autopsy, toxicological and police reports, according to the coroner’s office.

A fire started about 9 a.m. at the house at the Caton Farm Road address, according to Lockport Fire Protection District Lt. Robert Vargo. Battalion Chief Paul Hertzmann said when firefighters got to the scene, heavy smoke was coming from the small 1,200 square foot one-story ranch style house.

Crews found the elderly woman inside and brought her out, but were not able to resuscitate her, said Hertzmann.

The blaze was extinguished within about a half an hour, leaving the home destroyed.

"It gutted the house," Vargas said.

Hertzmann added that the damage was mainly caused by smoke and heat, rather than fire.

The Plainfield Fire Protection District was also on the scene, according to Deputy Chief Jon Stratton, who said his department assisted by sending one truck to the fire.

The Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force is investigating, according to the coroner’s office.